House bought before marriage and now divorce - what are the options?

You are doing well financially. Buy her share of the house and rent it to her. Then she can continue living there with the children, a new partner is irrelevant, and you can do something good for her and the children by not setting the rent too high. She has legal rights and financially it is strictly separate. I myself have been through a divorce with a house and children. I still live in the house and have paid her out. We recorded everything in a notarized separation and divorce agreement, including the purchase of the house and post-marital support. As long as you get along well, you can arrange that perfectly. Then you never have to think about it again.

best idea.

He can even rent to family members at a discount, saving a lot on taxes.

That will only be an endless source of disputes and problems.

It doesn't have to be that way. But one should be aware that the future will go off in different directions separately. The connection is the children, but that's where it ends. And that's only mental. Why would anyone want to keep the house together? That's crazy. There is no reason to hold on to it. You can stay a few months to avoid dealing with so many things all at once, but then it's time to let someone else have that property. And the children grow older and will eventually prefer to spend time with friends rather than visiting Dad or vice versa. In 15 years, they will go their own way and then it doesn't matter whether or how the parents are connected in whatever constellation. The important thing is to use the positive flow.

selling the house and the ex moving with the children.

It's probably more about the fact that too many changes can burden children. That's why the custodial parent continues to live there with the children for the time being. But I agree with you: a home has nothing to do with the house, but is where you feel comfortable.

I just remembered, since you bought before the marriage, who had how much equity?

Good morning, thank you for the further advice and ideas. I would also prefer to separate everything, we will see how it goes. Financially, I am not doing badly, but unfortunately I cannot pay her out. I had to invest a lot of savings in maintenance, house upkeep (she only worked a mini-job for one year) + furnishing my own apartment (I had nothing but my clothes/had nothing taken along). It is enough to finance my life and that of the children, but big leaps are currently not possible. Selling the house is really the last option. There would be too many complications + financially it would simply be nonsense. Such a house/apartment costs three times as much today. We had incredible luck with it. When the children move out, it can certainly be considered, but that will still take several years. On the subject of equity before the marriage: We already had a joint account before the marriage (for a possible house), everyone always put something in. Certainly more came in from me, as I was also the higher earner, but I would not bring this topic up.

A house/ apartment like this costs 3 times as much today.

And today you also get 3 times as much if you sell it. It can also offer a good financial fresh start for both parties.

It would be too much hassle

That's just an excuse.

But as I said, discuss everything with a lawyer. Just because something causes "hassle" doesn't mean it has to be bad.